Pete Marchetto
@petemarchetto.bsky.social
Boomer postpatriot Englishman, freelance writer in expat recovery (from China), of the social-democratic centre now deemed 'far left', Green Party member. Free sample ebook of short stories at:
https://petemarchetto290688881.wordpress.com/
🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇬🇪 🇪🇺 🏳️🌈
https://petemarchetto290688881.wordpress.com/
🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇬🇪 🇪🇺 🏳️🌈
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Pete Marchetto
@petemarchetto.bsky.social
· Nov 22
Free sampler ebook, (with details of how to pay me at the end if you feel like it): 'Love Sideways', 3 unromantic romances.
petemarchetto290688881.wordpress.com
petemarchetto290688881.wordpress.com
That seems an awful lot of effort only to step back half a pace. Someone needs to sort this out.
🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈Halftime Show!
For those of us who didn’t manage to learn Spanish 🌮
in time for the 🏈Super Bowl,
Bad Bunny 🐰 suggests that we dance 🕺 instead.
🎶🎵🎶🎶🎵🎶🎶
Here is a helpful dance step chart
👞👞👠👠🩰👟for you to practice before
the #BadBunny 🌶️Halftime Show.
🏈 #foFootball
🌶️🌶️Let’s Dance! 🌶️
For those of us who didn’t manage to learn Spanish 🌮
in time for the 🏈Super Bowl,
Bad Bunny 🐰 suggests that we dance 🕺 instead.
🎶🎵🎶🎶🎵🎶🎶
Here is a helpful dance step chart
👞👞👠👠🩰👟for you to practice before
the #BadBunny 🌶️Halftime Show.
🏈 #foFootball
🌶️🌶️Let’s Dance! 🌶️
February 7, 2026 at 10:17 PM
That seems an awful lot of effort only to step back half a pace. Someone needs to sort this out.
Does anyone believe for an instant the Dems would act on this fact any more than the GOP?
February 7, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Does anyone believe for an instant the Dems would act on this fact any more than the GOP?
Reposted by Pete Marchetto
One of the wickedest things Wes Streeting has ever done is push politically convenient falsehoods about suicide rates amongst young trans people. We have new data from the National Child Mortality Database that exposes the truth he tried to cover up.
New data shows surge in trans kids’ suicides following healthcare rollbacks | Good Law Project
A freedom of information request by Good Law Project has found that deaths by suicide of trans young people under 18 surged following the withdrawal of gender-affirming healthcare
goodlaw.social
February 7, 2026 at 9:09 AM
One of the wickedest things Wes Streeting has ever done is push politically convenient falsehoods about suicide rates amongst young trans people. We have new data from the National Child Mortality Database that exposes the truth he tried to cover up.
Interesting article with many examples. The root theory: Anti-trans rhetoric serves as a gateway to other forms of prejudice and bigotry, and thence to 'conspiracy theory' thinking.
As an argument, it appears to work.
newrepublic.com/article/2061...
As an argument, it appears to work.
newrepublic.com/article/2061...
Trans People Saw the Nancy Mace Crack-Up Coming Long, Long Ago
First, Public Figure A smears trans people. The culture doesn’t care. Then comes the racism or antisemitism. But transphobia is a gateway drug.
newrepublic.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Interesting article with many examples. The root theory: Anti-trans rhetoric serves as a gateway to other forms of prejudice and bigotry, and thence to 'conspiracy theory' thinking.
As an argument, it appears to work.
newrepublic.com/article/2061...
As an argument, it appears to work.
newrepublic.com/article/2061...
Realistically speaking, what percentage of the American electorate would this play well with compared with the percentage with whom it would play badly?
I don't believe it would gain the approval of 50%+, so what's the point?
I don't believe it would gain the approval of 50%+, so what's the point?
February 7, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Realistically speaking, what percentage of the American electorate would this play well with compared with the percentage with whom it would play badly?
I don't believe it would gain the approval of 50%+, so what's the point?
I don't believe it would gain the approval of 50%+, so what's the point?
Four years old and bang up to date.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Stop glorifying ‘centrism’. It is an insidious bias favoring an unjust status quo | Rebecca Solnit
The notion of a neutral and moderate middle is a prejudice of people for whom the system is working, against those for whom it’s not
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Four years old and bang up to date.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I thought things were dying down already, but there are plenty of embers still knocking around, not to mention petrol cans.
New on FT website:
Downing Street has refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer knew Palantir was a client of Peter Mandelson’s lobbying firm when they both visited the company in Washington last February — ahead of it winning a £240mn UK government contract.
www.ft.com/content/5bba...
Downing Street has refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer knew Palantir was a client of Peter Mandelson’s lobbying firm when they both visited the company in Washington last February — ahead of it winning a £240mn UK government contract.
www.ft.com/content/5bba...
Starmer faces questions over visit to Palantir office alongside Mandelson
Former ambassador was also shareholder in lobbying group that counted US tech firm as a client
www.ft.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:43 PM
I thought things were dying down already, but there are plenty of embers still knocking around, not to mention petrol cans.
Centrism is no longer popular because, if there's any consensus between the left, the right and reality, it's that what we've got ain't workin'.
February 7, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Centrism is no longer popular because, if there's any consensus between the left, the right and reality, it's that what we've got ain't workin'.
Neat article, and a fair one. A long read.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Am I at peak popularity? I hope not’: on the road with Zack Polanski, from protest to podcast to Heaven nightclub
With polls and membership at an all-time high, the Green party are having a moment – and it’s largely down to their charismatic (if slightly cheesy) new leader. Can he really pull off a socialist revo...
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Neat article, and a fair one. A long read.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Pete Marchetto
I always believed the purpose of Brexit was to destroy the ability of nation states to take on spiv capitalism. I never expected to see actual evidence of it.
February 7, 2026 at 4:47 PM
I always believed the purpose of Brexit was to destroy the ability of nation states to take on spiv capitalism. I never expected to see actual evidence of it.
The 'Labour Together' project isn't the party before the country. It's the faction before the party and the country be damned.
![Peter Mandelson with Morgan McSweeney [illustrative only]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xbpumlrltt5nfegclzdsvcjy/bafkreibrwep4utltf2otawnwrtl4yepkkyqmupqggylagwgozqayfytbti@jpeg)
February 7, 2026 at 4:32 PM
The 'Labour Together' project isn't the party before the country. It's the faction before the party and the country be damned.
It used to feel like a conspiracy theory to say that Labour Together is a 'do or die' project; win the party for the neoliberal right, or destroy it. But there's no ambiguity here. Nor has there been since Labour Together fought hard for May, then Johnson to win GEs against the Labour Party.
If...
If...
Will Keir Starmer use his nuclear option to try to head off a leadership challenge? www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-...
Will Keir Starmer use his nuclear option to try to head off a leadership challenge?
The prime minister’s allies have hinted that he will call a general election, says John Rentoul
www.independent.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 4:17 PM
It used to feel like a conspiracy theory to say that Labour Together is a 'do or die' project; win the party for the neoliberal right, or destroy it. But there's no ambiguity here. Nor has there been since Labour Together fought hard for May, then Johnson to win GEs against the Labour Party.
If...
If...
Reposted by Pete Marchetto
February 7, 2026 at 4:06 PM
I wonder whether there's a bit of psyops goin' down here? Clever if so.
The man has the attention span of a moth. He probably only watched the start of the video before reposting it.
It may be a good way to get anti-Trump messaging out there, either actual anti-Trump messaging or, as here...
The man has the attention span of a moth. He probably only watched the start of the video before reposting it.
It may be a good way to get anti-Trump messaging out there, either actual anti-Trump messaging or, as here...
BREAKING: Madman President Promotes Racist Video of the Obamas as Apes
Trump’s policies and actions are fueled by explicit racism and election denial. The Obama-ape video encompasses both, writes @swin24.bsky.social.
Read now: zeteo.com/p/trump-obam...
Trump’s policies and actions are fueled by explicit racism and election denial. The Obama-ape video encompasses both, writes @swin24.bsky.social.
Read now: zeteo.com/p/trump-obam...
BREAKING: Madman President Promotes Racist Video of the Obamas as Apes
Trump’s policies and actions are fueled by explicit racism and election denial. The Obama-ape video encompasses both.
zeteo.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM
I wonder whether there's a bit of psyops goin' down here? Clever if so.
The man has the attention span of a moth. He probably only watched the start of the video before reposting it.
It may be a good way to get anti-Trump messaging out there, either actual anti-Trump messaging or, as here...
The man has the attention span of a moth. He probably only watched the start of the video before reposting it.
It may be a good way to get anti-Trump messaging out there, either actual anti-Trump messaging or, as here...
There is no Starmer premiership without McSweeney. He can't get rid of him.
But that's what worries me about getting rid of Starmer. Will he be replaced by another Labour Together 'neoliberalism or bust' puppet?
Labour Together needs to be expunged from the party.
But that's what worries me about getting rid of Starmer. Will he be replaced by another Labour Together 'neoliberalism or bust' puppet?
Labour Together needs to be expunged from the party.
📌 ICYMI — Peter Mandelson’s Downfall Puts Morgan McSweeney’s Future in Doubt
Keir Starmer insists he is sticking by his chief adviser in the wake of the Mandelson scandal…
https://bylinetimes.com/2026/02/05/peter-mandelsons-downfall-puts-morgan-mcsweeneys-future-in-doubt/
Keir Starmer insists he is sticking by his chief adviser in the wake of the Mandelson scandal…
https://bylinetimes.com/2026/02/05/peter-mandelsons-downfall-puts-morgan-mcsweeneys-future-in-doubt/
Peter Mandelson's Downfall Puts Morgan McSweeney's Future in Doubt
Keir Starmer insists he is sticking by his chief adviser in the wake of the Mandelson scandal, but others have their doubts, reports Adam Bienkov
bylinetimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:44 PM
There is no Starmer premiership without McSweeney. He can't get rid of him.
But that's what worries me about getting rid of Starmer. Will he be replaced by another Labour Together 'neoliberalism or bust' puppet?
Labour Together needs to be expunged from the party.
But that's what worries me about getting rid of Starmer. Will he be replaced by another Labour Together 'neoliberalism or bust' puppet?
Labour Together needs to be expunged from the party.
Glad to see one box ticked when it comes to investigating allegations made in Paul Holden's book 'The Fraud' in the mainstream media.
It's a start.
However, there are an awful lot of pages in that book.
It's a start.
However, there are an awful lot of pages in that book.
Good to see Guardian following up Democracy for Sale’s story about Labour Together paying a PR firm to investigate journalists
Key point: confirms our reporting McSweeney knew what was going on
When will Labour Together come clean about what happened?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Key point: confirms our reporting McSweeney knew what was going on
When will Labour Together come clean about what happened?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Labour minister was provided with intelligence files on journalists
Exclusive: Material gathered was personally given to Josh Simons when chair of pro-Starmer thinktank, say sources
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Glad to see one box ticked when it comes to investigating allegations made in Paul Holden's book 'The Fraud' in the mainstream media.
It's a start.
However, there are an awful lot of pages in that book.
It's a start.
However, there are an awful lot of pages in that book.
This is weird. What is it with the Iranian regime and the number 3,117?
www.iranintl.com/en/202601263...
www.iranintl.com/en/202601263...
Iran’s repeated use of 3,117 fuels doubts about official statistics
A single number – 3,117 – has appeared repeatedly in Iranian official statistics, from protest deaths to public health data, raising doubts about the credibility and methodology behind state-reported ...
www.iranintl.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:29 PM
This is weird. What is it with the Iranian regime and the number 3,117?
www.iranintl.com/en/202601263...
www.iranintl.com/en/202601263...
Reposted by Pete Marchetto
February 6, 2026 at 12:45 PM
I suspect it was merely painted for an advert from a pillow manufacturer of the time, illustrating the importance of posture to a decent night's sleep.
The Nightmare (1781) — thought to be a symbolic depiction of sleep paralysis — one of the best known works by Swiss artist Henry Fuseli, born #onthisday in 1741.
More dreams in art here: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-art-of-dreams #otd
More dreams in art here: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-art-of-dreams #otd
February 7, 2026 at 12:54 PM
I suspect it was merely painted for an advert from a pillow manufacturer of the time, illustrating the importance of posture to a decent night's sleep.
It's thought that primitive humans worked on the '1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, many' principle, and Reform is a reactionary party. The road to primitivism is long, but they're a determined bunch. All Goodwin is doing is trying to build that road from the other end, which shows initiative.
I get that in the grand scheme of things this is a minor point, but failed academic and race baiting grifter Goodwin does know that you can't have "countless numbers" right? Long time to count maybe, albeit in this case I suspect a couple of minutes would be enough, but not "countless".
The untold story that is told constantly and isn’t really true
February 7, 2026 at 12:50 PM
It's thought that primitive humans worked on the '1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, many' principle, and Reform is a reactionary party. The road to primitivism is long, but they're a determined bunch. All Goodwin is doing is trying to build that road from the other end, which shows initiative.
Reposted by Pete Marchetto
The untold story that is told constantly and isn’t really true
February 7, 2026 at 11:35 AM
The untold story that is told constantly and isn’t really true
@lucympowell.bsky.social Lucy Powell, in coming to Bluesky to make questionable statements, clearly doesn't want to be questioned given she always has her comments turned off.
That makes her posts not matters for debate, but public announcements.
The government - more than any of us - has many...
That makes her posts not matters for debate, but public announcements.
The government - more than any of us - has many...
February 6, 2026 at 7:42 PM
@lucympowell.bsky.social Lucy Powell, in coming to Bluesky to make questionable statements, clearly doesn't want to be questioned given she always has her comments turned off.
That makes her posts not matters for debate, but public announcements.
The government - more than any of us - has many...
That makes her posts not matters for debate, but public announcements.
The government - more than any of us - has many...
I thought those slush funds were already out there. The American right has been splashing the cash on this project for years. All this suggests to me is that Trump has finally - and quite rightly - been told to cough up instead of just cashing in.
The Trump administration is creating a "slush fund" to turbocharge MAGA groups in the UK and EU, according to the FT.
This is code fucking red for democracy.
This is code fucking red for democracy.
Trump’s funding a MAGA invasion of UK and EU
🚨 Code f*cking red 🚨
writesbright.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:57 PM
I thought those slush funds were already out there. The American right has been splashing the cash on this project for years. All this suggests to me is that Trump has finally - and quite rightly - been told to cough up instead of just cashing in.